The Weinstein Company is re-teaming with Salinger director Shane Salerno to make a feature film biopic about the life of author JD Salinger (pictured), based on parts of Salerno's documentary.

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is re-teaming with Salinger director Shane Salerno to make a feature film biopic about the life of author JD Salinger (pictured), based on parts of Salerno’s documentary.

The narrative film will focus on Salinger’s life between his service in World War Two and the publishing of The Catcher in the Rye. Salerno, whose screenwriting credits include Armageddon and Savages, has signed on to pen the film’s screenplay.

In addition, TWC is to launch an extended ‘special edition’ of the Salinger documentary, which played at TIFF in Toronto earlier this month and opened theatrically in New York and LA on September 6. The extended cut promises never-before-seen footage.

“This documentary has been an incredible journey and truly epitomizes what it means to be a passion project,” said Salerno in a statement.

“I’m beyond excited to share more of the fascinating material we discovered in its new special edition, and look forward to continuing my relationship with Harvey and TWC in developing a narrative film about this brilliant, intriguing man.”

TWC co-chairman Harvey Weinstein added: “Shane has created an amazing documentary about one of the most beloved but enigmatic literary figures of our time.

“We are glad he was able to take the opportunity to add fantastic new footage. We greatly look forward to sharing the new edition with audiences and developing a Salinger feature with him.”

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Daniele Alcinii is a news editor at realscreen, the leading international publisher of non-fiction film and television industry news and content. He joined the RS team in 2015 with experience in journalism following a stint out west with Sun Media in Edmonton's Capital Region, and with communications work in Melbourne, Australia and Toronto. You can follow him on Twitter at @danielealcinii.